Chapter 175 - Exploits

Mikah nods a few times in agreement with Mark’s latest speculations, then continues the conversation.

“Oh, absolutely. We should probably start thinking up a few guidelines for how we want the chew toys. Once those are set, we can have everyone on the designers’ team that isn’t already busy with something else start figuring out how to fashion the dolls, as well as, well, their fashion. We’ll just need to have them hold off on using other people’s likenesses until we get their approval first, since, obviously, we don’t want to stoop to the level of the current manufacturer.” While Mikah is speaking, the receptionist service bot has returned from the backroom it wandered off to at 23’s behest.

Its arms are rather heavily encumbered thanks to carrying multiple neatly folded plush white bath sheets. It slowly walks over close to Willy, obviously being careful not to get too close to him once he’s in its towel-inflicted blind spot, so as not to disturb him.

Lowering itself close to the ground, the service bot spreads out the towels on the floor between Jonathan and Miss Calculated’s chairs, stacking the thick fabric up to provide some cushioning for an improvised dog bed.

“Pardon me, Sir William, and many apologies that we do not have something more accommodating for your needs.” The service bot speaks up as soon as it notices the fact that Willy is looking at it.

Willy stands up while making a happily appreciative bark, wagging his tail a few times. Stepping off of the pillow he was curled up on, he bites it and drags it over to the recently readied resting region. After casually conducting a couple of customary canine circles, he curls up cozily on the carefully curated cloth cushioning.

Miss Calculated can’t resist smiling down at him, then leaning over to gently pat his head a few times before turning her attention back over to Mark and Mikah’s marketing meeting.

With its objective complete, the service bot heads back to its station, not bothering with any sort of ‘by your leave’.

Mark had watched the canine care with amusement, briefly musing aloud before continuing the conversation.

“I guess I’ll have to ask Daniel to bring a few dog beds over later. Ah, but for the different dolls, relying on the honor system alone certainly won’t do, some sort of contract will be necessary for every third party person involved. We certainly don’t want anyone getting any bright ideas down the line if it proves more profitable than they originally imagined, and they want to try to sneak a larger piece of the pie. Hmm, rather than wasting any money with an upfront payment, which could be better used on more bots... Perhaps we can offer them royalties on the sales of the dolls in their likeness, including their specific accessories? Oh, if Liam can coax them into agreeing to it being off of the net profits, tempting them with a large percentage, we can then later insist that acquiring and upgrading all of the bots for the assembly line are all a necessary part of the manufacturing costs. By the time they realize how lean of a profit margin the project will be running on, it will be too late to negotiate any differently." Mark looks particularly self-satisfied after his scam-like scheming.

Miss Calculated shifts her positioning in her chair so as to face Mark a bit more directly, also adjusting her glasses as she does so. Once she is settled in, she finally works up the nerve to actually take part in the discussion.

"I mean, technically it is true. They don't need to know that it's mostly going to just be a cover, which will only hopefully profit. Offsetting even half of the initial bulk bot order will be enough to count as a win, I'd say. On a long enough timeline, the bots should theoretically result in earning back at the very least what they initially cost, it just won't necessarily be via the chew toys. Actually, to begin with, can they even do the assembly? I was under the impression that part of the reason your enhanced suit line is so expensive is because it is all hand-sewn by enhanced tailors, who are only able to work with the materials thanks to their powers.” When Miss Calculated points out a certain unfortunate detail, Mark flinches.

“...I suppose we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves. I was admittedly hoping we could do a weaker version of the slash-resistant fabric, which would hopefully be strong enough to be dog-resistant but weak enough that machinery could manage to pierce it.” After saying this, Mark sighs and sinks back into the couch, abandoning his idle dust bunny removal project.

Miss Calculated hesitates for a moment, clearing her throat after side-eyeing Mikah. He had turned to look at her with a curious expression, lifting one of his eyebrows up high while wearing a hopeful smile, though all he says is “Oh?” in a questioning tone.

“W-well, if we’ll be working together in a partnership involving your enhanced materials, a two-way NDA over mutually exchanged technologies wouldn’t be so strange. Of course, I won’t know for absolute sure until I actually get my hands on at least a few samples, but I may have a solution…” While Miss Calculated is saying this, Mark has slowly risen back up into an upright position and is staring at her, wide-eyed.

“How soon can you find out!? What do you need!? Do you have any idea how many suits Lucas ordered! Abe wouldn’t stop complaining all through dinner last night!” Mark’s voice progressively rises as he interrogates Miss Calculated, and he slaps the couch a few times for added emphasis.

“I, I can confirm whether or not I can cut the cloth as soon as a sample is provided, the only issue is I’m not sure if a needle made in the same fashion would be durable enough for prolonged use-” Before Miss Calculated has even finished saying this much, Mark has begun aggressively snapping at the nearest service bot until it walks over. The moment it reaches conversational range, Mark switches from snapping to assigning orders.

“Bring whatever scraps or small samples can be found for every type of enhanced cloth here IMMEDIATELY.” After issuing this command, Mark turns to look at Miss Calculated once again before continuing.

“Do you need to bring it home or do you have some way of testing right now? As long as whatever you do for the needle isn’t TOO expensive; if it’s usable by a service bot, it can be disposable for all I care! If we can start genuinely mass-producing suits... Ha! Even if we only did standard ready-to-wear sizing in the classic styles alone, being able to sell online globally… Funding your reactor project might be easier than I hoped! Hell, with high-functioning sapient bots to run things, we can open branch stores in other cities!” Unfortunately, the more enthusiastic Mark gets while saying this, the more nervous poor Miss Calculated is becoming.

Mikah is doing a poor job of stifling his laughter at their radically conflicting thoughts. However, even though he is obviously in good humor, there’s a trace of a pained expression across his face. Trying his best to be as comfortable as possible; he’s resting his head against one hand, with that arm’s elbow braced against the arm of the couch.

Considering Miss Calculated is on the brink of panic at the thought that she won’t be able to live up to Mark’s lofty expectations, she tries to rein his enthusiasm in.

“E-even if it will function as a needle without losing structural integrity, which is still uncertain, it will only work as part of a larger sewing machine. The needle alone will require a high power draw, on top of the normal amount needed to use such a device. Each unit would probably use two service bots’ worth of power during its time spent in operation, so even ignoring material costs for the device itself, you might not want to plan on running too many of them concurrently, anyway…” Despite Miss Calculated’s attempts, Mark merely waves a hand back and forth dismissively.

“Which won’t be an issue once the reactors are up and running anyway! It’s just the initial investment to get everything up and running, that’s nothing strange! Oh! Oh! I’m sure Lucas will be fine with a bunch of his suits being the pilot run for the bots using the sewing machines, as long as there are no malfunctions or defects. So, as long as it works, I’ll refund the price difference down to the cost of materials for those suits in thanks. Now it will definitely work! We might as well put Alley Cat’s power to use!” Mark trails off into slightly crazed, delighted laughter after saying this.

Miss Calculated opens her mouth to retort, but instead thinks it over, and quietly shuts her mouth.

She’s seen the effects of Alley Cat’s influence too many times, she can’t bring herself to even attempt to deny it.

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Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 17.35

Lucas's fame level: 6.0* (+1 net change, The Brotherhood of the Silver Spoon’s website has gone live!)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.25* (-.25 net change, being high-profile with the website has made many people decide that it’s unlikely for him to be so attention-seeking as a hero in this day and age. Of course, there are few that see it as the publicity stunt it is; therefore feeling unswayed, or even further convinced of his hero status.)

Jonathan total kills: 7

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 6.04

Jonathan's fame level: 4.0* (+1.25 net change, The Brotherhood of the Silver Spoon’s website has gone live!)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 2.5* (-.5 net change, being high-profile with the website… yada-yada same as Lucas.)

Willy's fame level: 4.5* (+3 net change, the meme dog’s portion of the new image gallery has led to a new wave of memes, and now more people involved know who he is, rather than just a niche portion that saw the original streams.)

Mr. Quacks’s fame level: 5.0* (The world has been taken by storm. The massive Mr. Quacks gallery has spawned even more memes than Willy now has in his honor.)

Supervillain social circle size: 15

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Little character theater:

Jonathan isn’t on stage today, he got the day off to mentally prepare himself since he’ll be featured more than normal next chapter.

Willy, having fun wriggling around on his back on the nice plush pile of padding: Bark!

Lucas also managed to get the day off after complaining loudly that Jonathan did, and insisting that he isn’t needed for any scenes either.

427 is unavailable, for what should be obvious reasons.

Author, leaning against a wall and scrolling through memes on their phone: It’s about time more people started to recognize Mr. Quacks’s glory.

Mr. Quacks, in Ji Soo’s office once again to praise him for a job well done: Quack!